People smuggler pleads guilty to smuggling charges over boat that sank killing 50 people

AN Iranian-Australian has pleaded guilty to people-smuggling charges linked to a boat that foundered off Christmas Island, killing 50 people.

AAPSeptember 3, 20125:03pm

An asylum seeker boat approaches the rocky shore on Christmas Island just before it breaks up on the rocks. Picture: APSource:AP

AN Iranian-Australian man faces the possibility of 20 years in jail after pleading guilty to people-smuggling charges linked to a boat that foundered off Christmas Island, killing 50 people.

Ali Khorram Heydarkhani, 41, had been due to face trial in the Perth District Court today, but instead pleaded guilty to four of 12 federal charges against him.

The charges include two of facilitating entry to Australia of five or more people, and two of reckless endangerment in the act of facilitating.

The prosecution accepted the plea and Heydarkhani will be sentenced on October 22.

He had originally faced about 100 charges, but almost 90 were dropped.

Heydarkhani has been in custody since he was extradited from Indonesia in May last year.

He was wanted over his involvement in organising four smuggling boats, including the ill-fated SIEV 221 which crashed against rocks on the island on December 15, 2010, killing 50 men, women and children.

Heydarkhani, who was born in Iran, was granted Australian citizenship in 2003.